The war between the CIA and ISI

[Lady Macbeth]

Slightly old article but definitely worth the read.

SPY WARS

The War between the spy Agencies of Pakistan and USA has begun. The resent tit-for-tat actions both by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of USA and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan have created a lot of uncertainty and confusions about the often pro-claimed so-called friendship and Strategic partnership (on-going strategic dialogue)

The war is going on silently and secretly as both the Agencies do not want the matter to be exposed to the world. Some selective information are leaked just to put pressure on each other for political maneuvering. The policy of sticks and carrots has worked for Americans till now, but it is becoming difficult with every passing day. Americans have started using the same Pakistani approach of double-timing to force Pak-Army and ISI to co-operate on war on terrorism. For example, the leakage of a video of extra-judicial killing of 6 innocent Pashtuns by Pakistan Army and the assertions of the American officials that more concrete material is being analyzed in which similar atrocities are being committed by Pakistan Army. A White House assessment, as reported by Wall Street Journal says that Pakistani government and military have been unwilling to take action against al-Qaeda and like-minded terrorists. The US administration and Pentagon usually keep their harshest criticisms of Pakistan private to avoid a public rift. But, the above mentioned leaks to media show growing US frustration

Furthermore, the increase in the drone attacks in North Waziristan and the alleged 3 helicopter raids by NATO forces into Pakistani territory during September while pursuing some fleeing Taliban insurgents also contributed to the anger of Pakistan Army (not Pakistani Public), which termed it as an attack on the sovereignty of Pakistan. The Pakistani Military Spy Agency, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), responded by attacking the NATO logistic convoys through its proxies (Talibans), while passing through Pakistani territory. Since the beginning of this year, there have been 58 attacks on NATO logistic convoys in Pakistan. Twenty-two of these attacks took place in the month of September only. This increase in attacks during September was a response of ISI to an increase in CIA Drone strikes in North and South Waziristan.

ISI started fanning anti-American anger in Pakistani public by feeding media with such reports. Then, it mobalized its time tested groups like Jamat-e-Islami to organize anti-American demonstrations in different cities of Pakistan to demonize Americans. Using its media machinery, ISI created a sense of anger among the public, to show to the world that Pakistani Public will not accept NATO attacks in Pakistani territory in future.

But infact, all this public anger is restricted to media. The moment, the Pak-Army relations normalize with US and NATO forces, all this hysteria will evaporate in the air in the Army-fed-media and Pakistani public. Using the same instrument of propaganda of anger and incitement, ISI, started attacking the NATO logistic convoys, heading to Afghanistan. The so-called Taliban claimed the attacks immediately as if government agencies transmitted information about these attacks to Taliban, the moment they occurred.

Another bone of contention is the two insurgents groups, Haqqani Network and Ilyas Kashmiri 313 Brigade, being supported by ISI, which are considered to be strategic assets for Pakistan, being used against Afghanistan and India respectively. Americans insist on Pakistan to attack Haqqani Network and not to support Kashmiri insurgents groups, which is being resisted by Pakistan. According to a report appearing in Wall Street Journal, ISI is putting pressure on Taliban Commanders not to lay down their arms in face of offers of peace and reconciliation from USA and Afghan governments.

The reports of Special Afghan Army personnel trained by US to conduct surgical operation against Taliban targets in Pakistan have also angered Pak-Army. There are credible reports that this 3000 strong Afghan Special Commando Unit has already conducted several operations in Pakistan.

The conviction and sentencing by a US court of Aafia Siddiqui, on charges of attempted murder of US military personnel, is also used by ISI to malign the image of USA in Pakistan through journalists and Islamic-groups on its pay-rolls. It seems ironic that despite the fact that USA is the biggest donor and aid-giver to Pakistan, is treated with contempt by ISI by feeding anti-American stories to the media, when needed. The same money received from Americans is used to pay for the salaries of the Establishment-fed-journalists to conduct anti-American propaganda in the media. The same weapons delivered to Pakistan Army to fight against terrorists is given to Taliban to kill American and NATO forces in Afghanistan.



A bench of Supreme Court of Pakistan headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhury has taken up the matter of NATO logistic convoys following allegations that these convoys have not been paying customs duty to the Pakistan Government, that nearly 10,000 NATO containers have gone missing. It seems strange that a court, which is weak enough to take-up and resolve the very important case of Disappeared Persons, in which Pakistani Army (ISI & MI) is involved:, is strong enough to selectively take up such important case to create troubles for American and NATO supplies, passing through Pakistan.

Pakistan has stepped up its anti-India propaganda. She is openly defying understanding with Americans, not to infiltrate the insurgents in Indian held Kashmir. The recent waves of the anti-India protests are the result of infiltration of those Kashmiri insurgent groups into Indian held Kashmir from Tribal Areas of Pakistan. This can be considered a strategic move by Pakistan Army to protect this Strategic Asset (Kashmiri insurgents groups) before launching Military operations in North Waziristan. General Musharaf has confirmed to a German Newspaper the Spiegel that Pakistan Army was training the Insurgents in Kashmir.

Pakistan has taken a U-turn on Drone attacks in Pakistan too. Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit in his weekly briefing on October 7, 2010, said, Pakistan has no agreement with the US over drone attacks; nor could such attacks be justified.

Pakistan Army think that the US-led NATO forces cannot win the war in Afghanistan without the logistic support by Pakistan, has embolden it to take such strong position. Ten days after the suspension of NATO logistic convoys, no decision has been taken to allow these convoys to enter Afghanistan, which is creating frustration among American and NATO forces.



Conti...

[Lady Macbeth]

The US and its NATO allies are in a dilemma. They claim that the disruption of supplies through Pakistan are not affecting their capability to fight Taliban. Despite three alternate supply routes through the Central Asian Republics, they are still dependent to a considerable extent on the cheap and short transport movement through Pakistan.

In these ISI-sponsored attacks Pashtun truck drivers are killed, who take these logistics to Afghanistan. So, in any case, only Pashtuns are suffering in this game of blood between CIA and ISI. Credible reports say that these containers are first looted, the drivers killed on the spot and then the empty containers are set on fire.

The question arises, as to what is wrong with the drivers if the extremist elements want to destroy the logistics of Americans. The only reason for killing these drivers is to remove the evidence completely. As, the drivers can be important witness not only for looting but also for those who (ISI) are looting and setting on fire the NATO containers.

Naturally, it is not a good publicity for Taliban to kill the Pashtun drivers, which can create anti-Taliban feelings among Pashtuns. So, these facts give credibility to the reports by some analysts that this is the act of Army or ISI. The increase in the attacks on NATO supplies, when ever there is some problem between Pak-Army and American forces, also point towards the hand of Army (ISI) in these attacks.

Pakistan is deliberately delaying the North Waziristan Operation, so that both these groups (Haqqani Network, Ilyas Kashmiri 313 Brigade) shift to other areas in FATA and Indian-Held-Kashmir. Americans are watching these movements with laser beam precision, but still they are unable to press Pakistan to act decisively to eliminate these groups. Besides the above mentioned locations, these Taliban and anti-Kashmiri groups are being hosted in small pockets like F.R Kohat, F.R. Peshawar, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Kurram Agency, South Waziristan, Khyber, Bajawar and Orakzai Agency. Following the same pattern of tactics in Kurram Agency, Pakistan Army is harassing, torturing, bombarding and killing the innocent local tribesmen who are resisting the arrival of foreigners (Taliban) in their areas. This so-called North Waziristan operation even if starts now, will be of no use as the Taliban would have already been shifted from this area.

Now with stepped up Drone strikes, American and NATO forces have started putting their boots on grounds in Pakistan, which is really disturbing for the Pakistani Military, which is using all its means to stop that. It can be guaged from the angry reactions of Army and ISI officials to print and electronic media and the threats for consequences. The war is not just restricted to statements, as Pakistan Army has blocked all the NATO supplies to Afghanistan for the last 10 days and it is still resisting to open the routes. On the other hand, Army is using its Taliban proxies to attack and destroy these NATO convoys. It seems that CIA and ISI have pitched themselves up against each other. The consequences for Pakistan will be dangerous if the war of nerves and these small skirmishes will convert into a full fledge war, and Americans will decide to remove the “cancer of Pakistan” as Obama put it and rightly, while talking to Security officials at White house.

spy-wars-of-cia-and-isi : KHYBER INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES